Earnest Graves

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 11, 2010

NATCHEZ — Services for Earnest Malcolm Graves, 90, of Natchez, who died Monday, March 8, 2010, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be at 11 a.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roy Tidwell and the Rev. Wayne Spencer officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mr. Graves was born Jan. 15, 1920, in Franklin County, the son of John Conley Graves Sr. and Mazie Smilley Graves. He was a graduate of Roxie High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific, earning the rank of sergeant. Mr. Graves also served in the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Graves was employed by Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company for 44 years as a tire builder and retired in 1983 as a senior foreman. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church and was an ordained deacon.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John Q. Graves.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Myrtle M. Graves; one daughter, Patrice Graves Seagrove and husband, Don, of Madison; two sons, Robert M. Graves and wife, Susan, of Natchez and Barton Keith Graves and wife, Kim, of Vidalia; six grandchildren, Christopher Seagrove and wife, Joni, of Pulaski, Tenn., Stephen Seagrove and wife, Katie, of Thompson Station, Tenn., Tristan Seagrove of Clinton, Brian Graves and wife, Cherry, of Mobile, Ala., Justin Graves and wife, Amber, of Vidalia, and Ryan Graves of Baton Rouge; six great-grandchildren, Jackson Graves, Eli Graves, Bella Graves, Abbey Graves, Emma Graves and Carson Graves; four brothers, Charles C. Graves and David E. Graves, both of Natchez, J.C. Graves Jr. of Clinton and Robert E. Graves of Huntsville, Ala.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Brian Graves, Justin Graves, Christopher Seagrove, Stephen Seagrove, Ryan Graves and Shea Pevey.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.